OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Tecumseh / Kirby Engines Victa Vantage 4 Stroke speed adjustment

Hi I was recently given a Victa Vantage 4 stroke mower as the owner had not been able to get it started. It would fire and run for a few seconds. Removed the sediment bulb (surprised to discover it was stamped Tecumseh) and the main jet was blocked. Cleaned it and reassembled it started first pull and sounds pretty good. Only problem is that it runs pretty much flat out. Did a google search and found your forum and a thread with the same initial problem (would start and run for a few seconds)and what appeared to be the same carburettor. Windows 10 updated overnight and I lost it. I have spent a lot of time searching but cannot find the same post again. I have had a look at post number 72139 on 1/2/16, 52624 on 13/1/14 and 41371 on 28/10/12 and all appear to have a similar carby but possibly not the same.

As it looks as though it will be a big job to get the carby off I was wondering if anyone could suggest a starting point.

This is what I know so far. If you move the speed control lever on the handle bar the speed control on the carby moves. ( I first thought their may be a problem with the setting on the kill switch but disconnecting it did not help) but there does not appear to be any change in the governor spring.

By using a pair of needle nose pliers to turn what I think is the throttle shutter it is possible to adjust the engine speed. (it is very stiff to turn ) down to more reasonable revs but their is still no response from the handle bar speed control.

Does any one have any suggestions?

Hi mate and welcome to the forum

It is indeed a Tecumseh engine and from the sound of it you may have a partially seized throttle shaft (not an uncommon occurance).

This will involve a basic overhaul & clean of the carbie.

I will try and find (or someone feel free to link) a link to a topic on the Forum as I am sure this has been discussed before

or as an alternative from FeeBay
Chinese Tecumseh Carb

Thanks Rusty,
I think it will be better to pull it apart in the short term, it seems to run pretty well so other than dirty probably not much wrong with the carb. It is good to have some reassurance as to where the problem is. I did not want to pull it off and find the problem was with the governor. I will need to get it off any how to get the model number but hard to go past a new one for $15.00.

I had a pretty big win with a Stihl brush cutter and a Chinese carby last year. I took the carby apart and put it back together twice, it was much easier to get too than this one with little success. Put the Chinese warbro in it ran like a dream was able to give it to a mate who insisted on paying for golf next time we played. Pretty much a win broke even dollar wise and got one more piece of equipment out of the shed.

Thanks again Rusty,
You were spot on with where the problem was. I sprayed a little CRC Carburettor cleaner on the outside of the throttle shaft, and it loosened up straight away. Gave it a little more and could move it easily with my finger and the return spring worked moving it back into place. Half a pull and the mower started but was not very responsive to the accelerator, it was just a matter of adjusting the throttle cable and it seems to run perfectly. Just need to have a week of sunshine so the grass will grow and I can try it out. Then all being well I think I will try and sell my new Victa, which never starts with less then 10 pulls and keep this one. I only have about 60 square metres of lawn so should last me the rest of my life.
Thanks again for your help